Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former US President John F. Kennedy Jr., has revealed her diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer in a heartfelt essay published in The New Yorker. The 35-year-old climate journalist discussed her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, which was made shortly after giving birth to her daughter in May 2024, noting that doctors have given her less than a year to live.
In her essay, titled 'A Battle With My Blood,' Schlossberg expressed her shock and despair at her diagnosis, particularly as it coincided with her second cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., being appointed as US health secretary under President Trump. She writes about the strain this appointment has put on her and her feelings toward the healthcare system.
Schlossberg has been an advocate for various causes and expresses deep concern for her children, saying, 'My first thought was that my kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn't remember me.' As she navigates treatments such as chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, she reflects on her previously active lifestyle, punctuated by moments of gratitude amid her struggle.
Tragedy seems to follow the Kennedy family; her uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. died at a young age in a plane crash, and her grandmother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, passed away from cancer. Schlossberg's poignant reflections are a mix of personal, familial, and societal issues as she confronts her mortality and the legacy she leaves behind.
Her brother, Jack Schlossberg, has announced plans to run for Congress, sharing Tatiana's essay and highlighting their family's continued involvement in American public life despite the personal challenges they've faced.
